1925 |
First Celery Crop Planted |
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Andrew Duda and his three sons – John, Andrew Jr., and Ferdinand – plant celery on land acquired by the family – a total of 40 acres – in the Slovak Lutheran Colony of Slavia, Seminole County, Florida. |
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1926 |
A. Duda and Sons Established |
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Andrew and his sons produce their first cash crop of celery and establish A. Duda & Sons. |
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1940 |
Additional Ag Lands Purchased |
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The company purchases additional land in central, east central and south Florida, expanding production land for vegetables and pasture land for cattle. |
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1953 |
Company Incorporates |
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The company is formally incorporated as A. Duda & Sons, Inc. |
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1962 |
Crop Diversification into Citrus |
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The company begins to diversify its agricultural crops with the purchase of land for citrus production in LaBelle in Hendry County, Florida, eventually totaling over 25,000 acres. |
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1972 |
More Property Purchased |
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Several hundred acres of property is purchased in Clewiston, Florida, with additional acreage in Moore Haven, Florida, purchased in 1975 for cattle. Eventually all of the property is put into sugarcane production.
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1973 |
Sod Production Begins |
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The company enters the sod production business with initial operations in Oviedo, Florida.
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1977 |
Management Transition from Second Generation to Third |
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The reins of management are passed from the Duda family’s second generation to the third generation. Edward D. Duda is named President of the corporation. |
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1979 |
California Presence Established |
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Gene Jackson Farms, Inc. is established in Salinas, California, to expand vegetable production and extend the seasonal offerings of the company’s fresh vegetable products. |
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1981 |
New Chairman Elected to Board |
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Edward D. Duda, President, is elected Chairman of the Board. |
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1982 |
Texas Presence Established |
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The company purchases Valley Onions, Inc. in McAllen, Texas. Texas operations today include the production of sugarcane, sod and citrus under the management of Duda Ranches.
Edward D. Duda assumes additional responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer of the corporation. |
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1989 |
Company Diversifies into Real Estate Development |
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Ground is broken for Viera, a master planned community on the company’s ranch in Brevard County, Florida. The name Viera means faith in Slovak paying homage to the family’s heritage and core beliefs.
The Viera Company is established as a wholly-owned subsidiary to manage development of Viera and the company’s non-agricultural land holdings. Viera Realty is established for residential sales in the new Viera community. |
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1992 |
New President and COO Named |
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F.S. Duda is named President and Chief Operating Officer of the corporation; Edward D. Duda remains Chairman and CEO. |
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1998 |
Ownership Taken in Dandy Cooling; CEO Retires |
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The company takes an ownership position in its Salinas-based Dandy Cooling operation.
Edward D. Duda retires and Ferdinand S. Duda is named Chief Executive Officer of the corporation; Edward remains Chairman of the Board. |
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2003 |
Company Appoints New President |
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Joseph A. Duda is named President of the corporation; F.S. Duda remains Chief Executive Officer. |
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2004 |
Commercial Property Portfolio Established |
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The company begins to acquire commercial properties to further diversify and strengthen its asset portfolio. This is the beginning of the company’s commercial property division. |
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2005 |
CEO Retires; Duran Golf Club Opens |
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F.S. Duda retires and is appointed Chairman of the Board; Joseph A. Duda, President, assumes additional responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer.
The Duran Golf Club and 18-hole championship golf course designed by Chip Powell is opened in Viera, adding golf course construction and management to the company’s diversified operations. A state-of-the-art Development Center featuring an expansive practice range and nine-hole, Par 3 course is added in 2008. |
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2006 |
Mission Statement Updated; Subsidiaries Established |
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The company adopts a new Mission Statement, defining the consolidated corporation as a diversified land company.
Additional subsidiary companies and business units are created to manage the company’s diversified operations: Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., grower, shipper and marketer of fresh and fresh-cut vegetables and fresh citrus; and the Duda Ranches division, agricultural operations including sod, sugarcane, cattle and eventually citrus production. Viera Builders, Inc. is established as a home builder and general construction company. |
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2008 |
Fresh-Cut Vegetable Operations Open |
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Duda Farm Fresh Foods opens a newly constructed fresh-cut vegetable processing plant and Dandy Cooling facility in Oxnard, California. |
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2009 |
Leadership Succession to Fourth Generation Begins |
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David J. Duda is elected President of the corporation, beginning the succession of leadership to the fourth generation of the Duda family; Joseph A. Duda remains Chief Executive Officer. |
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2010 |
CEO Retires; Fourth Generation Takes Leadership |
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Joseph A. Duda retires and David J. Duda is named Cheif Executive Officer, completing a leadership succession process that transitions management of the company from the third generation to the fourth generation. |
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